Welded mesh reinforcement and method of using same



M. BARRON 3,296,690

HOD OF USING SAE'.

WELDED MESH REINFORCEMENT AND MET ETL Filed NOV. 26, 1962 Jan. 10, 1967 United States Patent O 3,296,690 WELDED MESH RENFORCEMENT AND METHOD F USING SAME Maurice Barron, 291 Ridgeway, White Plains, NY. 10605 Filed Nov. Z6, 1962, Ser. No. 239,942 12 Claims. (Cl. 29-426) My present invention pertains to building construction. It relates, more particularly, to reinforced concrete construction and to a system of reinforcing. The invention has for its principal object to provide an assembly of welded steel mesh which replaces the ordinary steel reinforcing bars. Another principal object of my invention is to provide a simple construction of reinforced concrete which results from the use of a coiled spring made from welded wire mesh, wherein the coiled spring, upon controlled release, spreads or rolls out into a substantially flat layer of reinforcing steel without humps, requiring a minimum amount of positioning and tying, requiring considerably less labor than conventional reinforcement, and also resulting in considerable saving in time and money. Thus, in a project where the reinforcing concrete frame costs $4,000,000, more than $100,000 in savings is effected. In addition, other advantages acrue such as saving in winter heat, and additional revenue from earlier rental resulting from the accelerated construction schedule,

Another object of my invention is to provide the assembling of welded steel mesh, as required by the designing engineer, for building construction whereby the welded steel mesh is shipped to the building site in coils and unrolled into its nal position in the structure. A further object -of the invention is to provide a unit assembly of this character with engaging portions to automatically lock the component parts together.

A further object of my invention is to provide a building construction particularly adapted to coordinate the various construction stages and to minimize the waiting time and interferences of the various trades engaged in the construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a building construction made up of simple members that require no special tying together and much less labor, time and cost of construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple construction which results in producing a substantially crack free building construction.

The invention consists of novel parts and a combination of parts to be described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an efficient building construction. A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following specification, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

Other objects, advantages, and features of my invenr tion will be self-evident to those skilled in the art as the more detailed description thereof proceeds. The latter will be given with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a section through the coiled spring.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation showing a plan view of the coiled spring partially rolled out.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic representation of a sectional view of FIGURE 2 on line 3-3.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation of a sectional View of the completed slab and supporting beam, taken along line 4 4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of a sectional View of the completed slab and supporting beam, taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

3,296,690 Patented Jan. 10, 1967 FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation of a sectional view illustrating the use of the invention at a column of the building, taken along line 6 6 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 7 is a schematic representation of a plan view of FIGURE 6, taken along line '7-7.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic representation of a sectional view of FIGURE 2, taken along line'S-S.

Having more particular reference to the drawings in connection with which like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, my invention, when used in the construction of a reinforced concrete building, consists in part, of a coiled spring or roll 1 (see FIGURE l), made from a plurality of substantially parallel longitudinal steel wires or rods 2 and a plurality of substantially parallel steel transverse wires or rods 3 which are fastened together by being welded at each intersection i thereby forming a reticulated pattern. The transverse wires 3 are straight and the longitudinal wires 2 are bent into a coiled spring or roll 1. The coiled spring 1 has an inside or initial loop 5 and an outside or terminal loop 6 and a plurality of intermediate loops 7. During shipping, handling and positioning, the coiled spring or roll 1 is held in shape and prevented from uncoiling by having the ends of the longitudinal wires formed into a plurality of hooks 8 which are hooked around one of the transverse wires 3 as shown in FIG- URE 1. Additional wire holding ties 9 are furnished to supplement the holding power of the hooks 8. Other holding devices such as conventional circumferential steel bands, may also be used.

The coiled spring or roll 1 is lifted to a prepared deck 10 (FIGURE 3). The deck 10 is part of a conventional system of formwork which will confine the wet concrete or cementitious material while plastic, to the -designed shape until this material hardens into its final shape after which the formwork or deck 10 is removed.

After the coiled spring or roll 1 is positioned on the deck 10 the holding hooks S are cut and the holding wires 9 are cut. The end of the coiled spring or roll 1 takes the position shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The uncoiled portion 11 of roll 1 becomes a substantially flat and horizontal reticulated sheet of wires or rods which form the reinforcement 12 for the bottom of the concrete slab 13.

The remaining portion of the roll 1 is then uncoiled in the direction away from the uncoiled end until the desired length of reticulated sheet has been unwound. The length of the longitudinal wires 2 equals the length of the reticulated reinforcement 12, and the length of the transverse wires 3 equals the width of the reticulated reinforcement. Sheets are lapped and spliced as required. (See FIGURE 8.)

In addition to the wire ties 9 and hooks 8, additional wire ties 14 are provided at intervals along the length of the longitudinal wire 2. These intermediate wire ties 14 divide the coiled spring 1 into segments which further control the speed of rollout and the force lrequired to start and maintain a rollout operation. When only part of the length of the reticulated s-heet is required, the intermediate wire ties 14 are installed at the proper length interval thereby preventing rollout beyond this point. The part of the retriculated sheet needed is then cut from the coiled spring 1 and Ithe coiled portion removed to another location.

It is desirable, when laying -or installing the reticulated mesh reinforcement 12, to spa-ce the mesh relative t-o the form or deck 10. This is accomplished by means of a conventional supporting device usually called a slab bolster 15 as shown in FIGURE 3, which illustrates the reticulated mesh reinforcement 12 for the bottom of the concrete slab 13. For convenience of illustration, FIG- URI'E 3 shows only the retriculated mesh reinforcement 12 for the bottom of the slab 13.

In most reinforced concrete slabs, reinforcement 16 is also required near the top surface 17 of the slab 13. This reinforcement 16 is an embodiment of my invention by providing and placing a reticulated top reinforceing mesh 16 in the same manner as heretofore described for the bottom reinforcement 12 of the slab 13, i.e., by a rollout of a coiled spring, 1 spaced relative to the deck by means of conventional spacers 18 usually called high chairs. (See FIGURES 4 and 6).

FIGURES 2 and 3 show the end of the coiled spring positioned to engage and lock the end transverse wire 19 into the conventional reinforcement 20 of the supporting `beam 21. The reinforcement 20 for the supporting beam 21, in FIGURE 3 is a cage 2t) made from conventional deformed reinforcing bars. In order for the end of the spring coil to pass the cage 20 of conventional reinforcement, the bar 22 is left loose and positioned after the end transverse bar 19 has been placed, as shown in FIG- URE 3.

FIGURES 2 and 4 show how end of the coiled spring 1 engages and locks into the supporting beam 21, when the reinforcement for the supporting beam 21 is made from a sheet of reticulated welded wire mesh 23, supplemented by conventional ldeformed reinforcing -bars 24, as required by the designing engineer. The end transverse bar 19 is cut at a plurality of locations to form short cross pieces 25. The openings between cross pieces 25 permits the end of the reticulated welded mesh 12 to pass the vertical legs 4of the beam cage 23.

FIGURE 5 shows how the end longitudinal wire 26 is treated in the same way as the transverse wire 19, and the cross pieces 25', are treated in FIGURES 3 and 4, respectively. When the reinforcing cage is made from conventional deformed reinforcing bars, the Iinside top reinforcing bar 27 (FIGURE 5), is left loose and positioned after the end longitudinal wire 26. When the reinforcing cage 23 is made from a sheet of reticulated welded wire mesh, the end longitudinal wire 26 is cut to provide openings lbetween cross pieces, which openings permit the reticulated welded mesh 12 to pass the vertical legs of the beam cage 23.

FIGURES 6 and 7 show how the reticulated welded mesh is treated at a column 23 in the structure. After the bottom ymesh 12 is uncoiled, the longitudinal and transverse wires which cover the column opening are cut away allowing the column cage 29, to -be lowered into its position. The column cage 29, as shown, is made Ifrom a sheet of reticulated welded wire mesh 3i) with supplemental conventional deformed reinforcing bars 31. The cage 29 projects above the top surface 17 of the slab 13, and the projecting portion provides the splice from the column cage above. The top mesh 16 is continuous or discontinuous as required by the designing engineer. Cutting the top mesh and leaving gaps in the reinforcement is a means of saving reinforcement. Alt all openings when the reticulated welded wire mesh interfers with construction, the interfering portions are out away and the strength lost by cutting is re-established, if necessary, by a patch which consists of a piece of mesh `or additional conventional reinforcing bars.

FIGURE 8 shows how one sheet of reticulated mesh is spliced to another sheet of reticulated mesh. The length of overlap is dictated by the design requirements.

An important feature of my invention resides in the control of the speed of rollout or uncoilin-g, and in the control of the force `required to start and maintain the rollout operation. Thus, 'by increasing the diameter of the longitudinal wires 5, 6, 7, the speed of rollout is increased and fewer workmen are required to provide the force necessary to start and maintain the rollout operation. `Increasing the strength of the steel in the longitudinal wires 2, increasing the number of longitudinal wires 2, increasing the number of loops 7, or decreasing the diameter of the inside loop S, will all tend to reduce the force necessary to start and maintain the rollout operation. In the limit, the coil spring 1 will unroll itself without any outside force to start or maintain this rollout operation.

This reduction in force is very desirable because it reduces the cost of construction by reducing the number of work-men required. It also reduces the time consumed and thereby speeds up the construction. Less skilled workmen are required and the chance of errors and omissions in reinforcing are reduced to almost nil. Furthermore, the owner of the building starts using the building sooner and starts to derive income sooner. Y

Where one sheet of reticulated mesh is inadequate in strength, a second sheet of reticulated mesh is provided as required by the designing engineer. The second sheet rests on top of the first sheet forming four layers of rods, or, the second sheet nests with the first sheet forming three layers of rods, the middle layer of rods containing rods from both sheets of reticulated mesh.

Furthermore, rollout of reticulated mesh may be more convenient at a location removed from the final position of the reticulated mesh in the concrete structure. The full coil spring, or parts thereof, can be unrolled nearby, and the parts lifted and positioned as a subsequent operation.

Thus, it is understood that the embodiment of the invention described herein, is only one of the many embodiments this invention may take, and -I do not wish to be limited in the practice of the invention, nor in the claims, to the particular embodiment set forth.

What I claim is:

1. A fabric for reinforced concrete construction, com prising at least two wires extending longitudinally and at least two wires crossing and connected to said longitudinally extending wires and extending transversely thereof, said longitudinally extending wires being rolled into a roll whereby to form a coiled fabric of said longitudinally and said transversely extending wires and being adapted to be uncoiled and rolled out into a at condition to form a at mesh of reticulated sheet material of said longitudinally and said transversely extending wires, and wire ties connected between selected portions of said longitudinally extending wires in its coiled form to divide said coiled fabric into segments from the interior to the exterior of said coiled fabric to thereby control the speed of rollout of said coiled fabric.

2. A fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said longitudinally extending wires is provided with an extension formed into a hook which is adapted to engage one of said transversely extending wires in the coiled condition of said coiled fabric.

3. A fabric as claimed in claim 1, including additional wire ties connecting the interior coil and the exterior coil of said coiled fabric in its coiled condition thereby to supplement the holding power of said hooks.

4. A fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinally extending wires are of a spring material.

5. A method of using a coil of connected fabric formed of at least two longitudinally extending wires and at least two wires extending transversely to the longitudinally extending wires and coupled thereto, comprising the steps of uncoiling the coil of fabric and placing it onto a slab bolster for support to form a flat mesh of reticulated sheet material spaced from a deck adapted to support cementitious or concrete material, positioning the end transverse wire at a supporting beam prior to the completion of a cage of reinforcing bars at the supporting beam and cutting the transverse end at a plurality of locations therealong to form short cross pieces which pass the vertical legs of the cage and severing from the coil the longitudinally extending wires supported above the slab bolster.

6. A method of using a coil of connected fabric formed of at least two longitudinally extending wires and at least two wires extending transversely to the longitudinally extending wires and coupled thereto with wire ties connected between selected portions of one of the longitudinally extending wires in its coiled form to divide the coiled fabric into segments from the interior to the exterior of the coiled fabric, comprising the steps of cutting the wire ties individually to permit a portion of the coiled fabric to be rolled out thereby to control the speed of rollout of the coiled fabric and the length of the coiled fabric rolled out, uncoiling said portion of the coil of fabric and placing it onto a slab bolster for support to form a at mesh of reticulated sheet material spaced from a deck adapted to support cementitious or concrete material and severing from the coil the longitudinally extending Wires supported above the slab bolster.

7. A method of using a coil of welded fabric formed of a plurality of coilable longitudinally extending wires of spring material and a plurality of straight wires extending transversely to the longitudinally extending wires and coupled thereto with wire ties connected between selected portions of one of the longitudinally extending wires in its coiled form to divide the Welded fabric into segments from the interior to the exterior of the welded fabric, comprising the steps of cutting one of the wire ties to free a first segment of the welded fabric to permit a first portion of the welded fabric to be rolled out, uncoiling said first segment from the coil of welded fabric without straightening and placing it onto a slab bolster carried by a deck for support to form a flat mesh of reticulated sheet material spaced from the deck, the deck being adapted to support concrete material, cutting said first segment of the welded fabric where said wires interfere with or cross a column opening to permit a column cage to be lowered into said column opening, severing from the coil the longitudinally extending wires of the first segment supported above the slab bolster, cutting another one of the wire ties to free a second segment of the welded fabric to permit a second portion of the welded fabric to be rolled out, and positioning said second segment of the welded fabric onto a second slab bolster having a height greater than the first-mentioned slab bolster to provide a second at mesh of reticulated sheet material spaced from said first flat mesh and the deck.

8. A fabric roll for reinforced concrete construction, comprising at least two wires extending longitudinally and at least tWo wires extending transversely and crossing and connected to said longitudinally extending wires, said longitudinally extending wires being rolled into a roll whereby to form a coiled fabric of the longitudinally and transversely extending wires, each of the longitudinally extending wires being of spring material, and at least one mechanical tie means connected between selected portions of said longitudinally and said transversely extending wires for holding said fabric roll in its coiled condition thereby preventing roll out of said coiled fabric under pressure from the tension of the said longitudinally extending wires, and to divide said coiled fabric into segments from the interior to the exterior of said coiled fabric to thereby control the speed of rollout of said coiled fabric whereby removal of said mechanical tie means enables the said fabric roll to roll out into its at condition 6 to form a substantially flat mesh of reticulated material.

9. A fabric roll as claimed in claim 8, wherein said mechanical tie means includes a band.

10. In a wire fabric for reinforced concrete construction, the fabric comprising at least two wires extending longitudinally and at least two wires crossing and iixedly connected to said longitudinally extending wires and eX- tending transversely thereof, the improvement comprising the formation of said longitudinally extending wires of spring material, said longitudinally extending wires being rolled into a lroll whereby to form a coiled fabric of said longitudinally and said transversely extending wires, said transverse wires being straight and said longitudinal wires being bent into a coiled spring, mechanical tie means connected between selected portions of said longitudinally and transversely extending wires to divide said coiled fabric into segments from the interior to the exterior of said coiled fabric thereby to control the speed of rollout of said coiled fabric and said longitudinally extending wires being unrollable to be uncoiled and rolled out into a flat condition sto form a flat mesh of reticulated sheet material of said longitudinally and said transversely extending Wires without straightening and remains fiat under the traflic of workmen.

11. In a wire fabric as claimed in claim 10, said mechanical tie means including wire ties connected between said selected portions of said longitudinally extending wires in its coiled form, said longitudinally extending wires being unrollable to form a flat sheet of reinforcement with said transversely extending wires substantially parallel to each other, said flat sheet remaining flat under :the trahie of workment while placing of concrete.

12. In a fabric as claimed in claim 10, at least one of said longitudinally extending wires being provided with an extension forming a hook to engage one of said transversely extending wires in the coiled condition of said fabric.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,071,822 9/1913 Storey 52-664 1,169,462 1/1916 Clark 206-59 1,514,902 11/ 1924 Gilmore 52-660 1,658,758 2/1928 Bitney 52-652 1,674,204 6/1928 Johnson 52-650 1,770,017 7/1930 Sommer 52-660 1,883,816 10/1932 OBrien 52-652 1,950,343 3/1934 White 52-653 2,255,577 9/1941 Wilke 206-59 2,295,742 9/ 1942 Lauter 206--59 FOREIGN PATENTS 393,055 10/ 1908 France. 871,121 1/1942 France.

36,566 10/ 1935 Holland.

OTHER REFERENCES Engineering News Record--Dec. 10, 1953, page 42.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Examiner. M. O. WARNECKE, Assistant Examiner. 

8. A FABRIC ROLL FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION, COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO WIRES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY AND AT LEAST TWO WIRES EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY AND CROSSING AND CONNECTED TO SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING WIRES, SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING WIRES BEING ROLLED INTO A ROLL WHEREBY TO FORM A COILED FABRIC OF THE LONGITUDINALLY AND TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING WIRES, EACH OF THE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING WIRES BEING OF SPRING MATERIAL, AND AT LEAST ONE MECHANICAL TIE MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SELECTED PORTIONS OF SAID LONGITUDINALLY AND SAID TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING WIRES FOR HOLDING SAID FABRIC ROLL IN ITS COILED CONDITION THEREBY PREVENTING ROLL OUT OF SAID COILED FABRIC UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE TENSION OF THE SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING WIRES, AND TO DIVIDE SAID COILED FABRIC INTO SEGMENTS FROM THE INTERIOR TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID COILED FABRIC TO THEREBY CONTROL THE SPEED OF ROLLOUT OF SAID COILED FABRIC WHEREBY REMOVAL OF SAID MECHANICAL TIE MEANS ENABLES THE SAID FABRIC ROLL TO ROLL OUT INTO ITS FLAT CONDITION TO FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT MESH OF RETICULATED MATERIAL. 